The facility at Pickaxe Mountain, near the Natanz enrichment complex, is believed to be buried deeper than Fordow and was not attacked during either the 12-day war or the current round of fighting. Recent satellite imagery shows Iran continuing to fortify and reinforce the site, in apparent violation of the memorandum of understanding signed with the US in June.
The NATO leaders' summit in Ankara will give Recep Tayyip Erdogan a platform to showcase his security and diplomatic achievements, as well as his ambition to position Turkey as a regional and international power. From the defense industry to influence from Africa to the Caucasus: These are the Turkish president's goals.
Fifty-two heads of state will gather for NATO's annual summit in Turkey, which is set to become an unprecedented font of confrontation. On one side is the worsening clash between the isolationist Trump administration and many European countries. On the other is the meteoric rise of Erdogan as a central axis in the alliance. While the US president lavishes praise and military assistance on Turkey, and Europe courts its enormous army, Israel is watching the Turkish president's growing strength with concern.
According to the Saudi Asharq Bloomberg, the security annex to the trilateral framework agreement between Israel, Lebanon and the US sets out a phased model for disarming Hezbollah, international verification and a redeployment of IDF forces. First step: pilot zones south of the Litani River. Lebanon’s commitment: The Lebanese Army will have exclusive operational control, and Hezbollah will be left with no military role in the country.
The new framework agreement with Israel is reawakening Lebanon’s internal demons. Between threats from Hezbollah and the Amal Movement, and the push by President Aoun and the Christian-Sunni camp to dismantle the militias, this is the picture of a country on its last legs.
Despite the pressure surrounding negotiations with Iran, Israel and the US have reached understandings under which there will be no withdrawal from southern Lebanon for now. The IDF will continue to act against threats and terrorist infrastructure under closer coordination with Washington. At the same time, intelligence passed to the Americans indicates that the directives to escalate Hezbollah activity are coming directly from Tehran.
Qatar appears to be the big winner: Despite its dubious ties with Hamas, the White House repeatedly proved receptive to the emirate’s mediation efforts. Other Gulf Cooperation Council countries, such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, naturally aligned themselves with the announcement of the memorandum.
With deployment of government forces, removal of armed militias and continued direct negotiations under US auspices, Israel sees the move as a long-term strategic step.
From improvised nets to rifle-mounted interception sights, the IDF’s temporary responses do not provide an adequate solution. Of the 12 people killed since the ceasefire announced on April 16, those killed by Hezbollah drones represent an exceptional share. The Israeli security establishment has acknowledged: We knew the threat from Ukraine and were not prepared.
Trump updated regional leaders that Iran has pledged to hand over its highly enriched uranium to the US and remove it from Iran. Israeli source says: "The significance of reaching an agreement under these terms is the start of the countdown to the next war. It may take a few years, but it will come."
